A Dutch guideline for the treatment of scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Children with neuromuscular disorders with a progressive muscle weakness such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Spinal Muscular Atrophy frequently develop a progressive scoliosis. A severe scoliosis compromises respiratory function and makes sitting more difficult. Spinal surgery is considered the primary treatment option for correcting severe scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders. Surgery in this population requires a multidisciplinary approach, careful planning, dedicated surgical procedures, and specialized after care.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The guideline is based on scientific evidence and expert opinions. A multidisciplinary working group representing experts from all relevant specialties performed the research. A literature search was conducted to collect scientific evidence in answer to specific questions posed by the working group. Literature was classified according to the level of evidence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For most aspects of the treatment scientific evidence is scarce and only low level cohort studies were found. Nevertheless, a high degree of consensus was reached about the management of patients with scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders. This was translated into a set of recommendations, which are now officially accepted as a general guideline in the Netherlands.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In order to optimize the treatment for scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders a Dutch guideline has been composed. This evidence-based, multidisciplinary guideline addresses conservative treatment, the preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative care of scoliosis in neuromuscular disorders.</p

University student engagement inventory (USEI): psychometric properties

Academic engagement describes students’ investment in academic learning and achievement and is an important indicator of students’ adjustment to university life, particularly in the first year. A tridimensional conceptualization of academic engagement has been accepted (behavioral, emotional and cognitive dimensions). This paper tests the dimensionality, internal consistency reliability and invariance of the University Student Engagement Inventory (USEI) taking into consideration both gender and the scientific area of graduation. A sample of 908 Portuguese first-year university students was considered. Good evidence of reliability has been obtained with ordinal alpha and omega values. Confirmatory factor analysis substantiates the theoretical dimensionality proposed (second-order latent factor), internal consistency reliability evidence indicates good values and the results suggest measurement invariance across gender and the area of graduation. The present study enhances the role of the USEI regarding the lack of consensus on the dimensionality and constructs delimitation of academic engagement.Jorge Sinval received funding from the William James Center for Research, Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT UID/PSI/04810/2013). Leandro S. Almeida and Joana R. Casanova received funding from CIEd – Research Centre on Education, projects UID/CED/1661/2013 and UID/CED/1661/2016, Institute of Education, University of Minho, through national funds of FCT/MCTES-PT. Joana R. Casanova received funding from the Portuguese Science Foundation (FCT) as a Doctoral Grant, under grant agreement number SFRH/BD/117902/2016.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Tratamento da escoliose em crianças com paralisia cerebral utilizando a prótese vertical expansível de titânio para costela (VEPTR) Tratamiento de la escoliosis en niños con parálisis cerebral mediante la prótesis vertical expansible de titanio para las costillas (VEPTR) Treatment of scoliosis in children with cerebral palsy using the vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR)

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o uso da prótese vertical expansível de titânio (VEPTR) como opção de tratamento inicial da escoliose em crianças de baixa idade portadoras de paralisia cerebral. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 10 pacientes portadores de paralisia cerebral (PC) tratados com VEPTR pelo grupo de escoliose da AACD de São Paulo. Caracterizavam-se por imaturidade esquelética e escoliose progressiva; sem deformidade grave no plano sagital. Realizamos avaliação da curva pelo método de Cobb no pré e pós-operatório e após dois anos de seguimento. RESULTADOS: A correção obtida com o uso do VEPTR no pós-operatório imediato foi em média de 41,4% nas radiografias iniciais sem tração (p = 0,005) e 9,1% (p = 0,055) nas radiografias com tração. Após quatro meses de pós-operatório mantiveram-se ganhos de 27,2% com relação ao início. Houve correção da obliquidade pélvica de 10,2º no pré-operatório para 5,4º em média (p = 0,007). As complicações ocorreram em seis pacientes (60%) e em apenas um paciente foi necessária a retirada do VEPTR. CONCLUSÃO: O VEPTR é um método que obteve correção significativa no tratamento provisório das escolioses na PC, apesar de frequentes complicações de baixa morbidade.<br>OBJETIVO: Evaluar el uso de la prótesis vertical expansible de titanio (VEPTR) como opción de tratamiento inicial para la escoliosis en niños pequeños con parálisis cerebral. MÉTODOS: 10 pacientes con parálisis cerebral (PC) fueron evaluados y tratados con VEPTR por el grupo de escoliosis de la AACD en Sao Paulo. Caracterizados por escoliosis progresiva inmadurez esquelética, sin deformidad grave en el plano sagital. Se evaluó la curva por el método de Cobb en el preoperatorio, posoperatorio, y después de dos años de seguimiento. RESULTADOS: LA CORRECCIón, obtenida con el uso de VEPTR en el posoperatorio inmediato, fue en promedio 41,4% en relación a las radiografías iniciales sin tracción (p = 0,005) y 9,1% (p = 0,055) en comparación a las radiografías con tracción. Después de cuatro meses de la intervención fueron mantenidas mejorías de o 27,2% con respecto a las iniciales. Hubo una corrección de la oblicuidad pélvica de 10,2 º en el preoperatorio para 5,4 º en promedio (p = 0,007). Las complicaciones ocurrieron en seis pacientes (60%), y sólo uno de ellos necesitó retirada de VEPTR. CONCLUSIÓN: El VEPTR es un método que ha obtenido corrección significativa en el tratamiento temporal de la escoliosis en el PC, pesar de las complicaciones frecuentes con una baja morbilidad.<br>OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) as an option for initial treatment of scoliosis in younger children with cerebral palsy. METHODS: We evaluated 10 patients with cerebral palsy (CP) treated with VEPTR by the group of scoliosis of the AACD in Sao Paulo. The characteristics of the subjects were progressive scoliosis and skeletal immaturity without severe deformity in the sagittal plane. We evaluated the curve by the Cobb method pre-and postoperatively and after two years of follow up. RESULTS: The correction achieved with the use of VEPTR in the immediate postoperative period was on average 41.4% on initial radiographs without traction (p=0.005) and 9.1% (p=0.055) in the traction radiographs. Four months after surgery the gains of 27.2% were maintained compared to the baseline. There was a correction of pelvic obliquity from 10.2º preoperatively to 5.4º on average (p=0.007). Complications occurred in six patients (60%), and only one patient required removal of the VEPTR. CONCLUSION: The VEPTR is a method that has obtained significant correction in the temporary treatment of Scoliosis in PC, despite frequent complications with low morbidity